The main tower and girder of the Longyan Bridge, with a combined weight of 23,600 tonnes, synchronously rotated 21 degrees counter-clockwise, reaching a designed position in Longyan city, east China's Fujian Province, early Thursday. This is the second rotation of the bridge following a 69-degree rotation of its main tower on April 10. The two rotations of such a heavy bridge under construction have set a precedent in the field, said the China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited, designer of the bridge's rotational device. According to the company, the rotational device can bear up to 25,000 tonnes, equivalent to the weight of 2.5 Eiffel Towers. The Longyan Bridge will span two major railroads, on which nearly 120 trains pass by every day. Once built, it is expected to become an important link in the local expressway system and to improve the city's traffic efficiency. However, the construction site of the diamond-shaped bridge tower is very close to the railways. Conducting rotations, therefore, can increase the proximity to about 20 meters, reducing the safety risk to the railways.
